It's easy to understand why inmates of a Midland jail might be attracted to Doctor Who .

The Time Lord’s ability to travel back in time or leap forward into the future must make him the envy of criminals facing long prison stretches.

But prison fans of the long-running show based at HMP Hewell, near Redditch , have taken their fascination with the good Doctor, known for his ability to right wrongs and save civilisations, to new lengths.

Around 30 nature-loving inmates teamed up to create an entry for the Malvern Spring Gardening Show celebrating 50 years of Doctor Who.

And they impressed Royal Horticultural Society judges enough to win a silver flora award for their efforts.

The prisoners’ show garden, devised with the help of their children, was entitled ‘Serving Thyme in the Garden of Gallifrey’.

That’s a reference to the Doctor’s home planet.

It featured floral depictions of faithful companion K9 and enemies such as the Daleks.

HMP Hewell, near Redditch

Models of frightened youngsters hid behind a grass sofa, while a combination of slate chippings and clever planting created a spiralling purple time vortex.

Delighted show hosts Three Counties Agricultural Society said the entry was ‘a garden of transcendental wonders’.

An overjoyed Prison Service spokeswoman said: “Prisoners and staff at HMP Hewell have been awarded a silver medal for their show garden entry at the RHS Malvern Spring Gardening Show.

“Under the supervision of staff up to 30 prisoners put into use their skills in team work, construction and design to create the garden.”

The medal represents a rare piece of good news for the jail, which was branded filthy, unsafe and a soft touch for drug smuggling in a report by prison inspectors last month.

The RHS ranked a show garden designed by Herefordshire-based Howle Hill Nursery as best in the show.